Loading means for bolt-action rifles



Dem 1960 T. R. ROBINSON, JR 2,963,810

LOADING MEANS FOR BOLT-ACTION RIFLES Filed Oct. 7. 195a BigM Mw v ATTORNEYS United States Patent LOADING MEANS FOR BOLT-ACTION RIFLES Thomas R. Robinson, In, New Haven, Conn., assignor to The Marlin Firearms Company, New Haven, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Oct. 7, 1958, Ser. No. 765,805

11 Claims. (Cl. 42-16) This invention relates to loading mechanism for firearms, particularly rifles, and is especially concerned with providing efiicient and reliable means for introducing cartridges into the chamber of a bolt-action rifle.

In many conventional bolt-action, single-shot rifles a relatively large loading opening was provided at the front end of the receiver to enable the cartridge to be introduced into the receiver manually and pushed into the chamber by the fingers of the shooter. Various expedients have been tried to improve on such a mechanism so as to avoid the inconvenience of having to guide the cartridge into the chamber by the fingers or to prevent it from dropping to a point in the receiver below the chamber where it would jam.

One such expedient has been to provide a two-diameter receiver bore with the front or smaller portion of the bore being of the same cross-sectional size as that of the cartridge rim and being aligned with the chamber of the gun. With this construction the cartridge drops into a bore of approximately its own diameter and with a forward thrust of the breech bolt is guided into the chamber. This construction entails the machining of a two-diameter receiver and also a two-diameter breech bolt which involves considerable expense. Further, as the breech bolt must rotate within the receiver in order to unlock the bolt so that it may be retracted to open position and as the extractor and firing pin are mounted in the forward portion of the breech bolt, these parts must lie within the periphery of the smaller front extension of the bolt so that the bolt may rotate within the receiver.

A second expedient sometimes adopted to improve the loading of the gun is the provision of a loading ramp. This type of construction almost of necessity requires a two-piece breech bolt, the front portion being cut away longitudinally to clear the lips of the ramp which are aligned with the rear of the chamber and which are designed to guide the cartridge into the chamber. In such a construction the front port-ion of the bolt cannot rotate over the fixed ramp and, therefore, the bolt assembly must be formed of a rear bolt free to rotate independently of the front bolt which, however, reciprocates with the rear portion of the bolt. This construction is not an economical one and has the disadvantage that it only operates effectively when the gun is held in an essentially upright or vertical position, for, if the gun is tipped appreciably, the cartridges miss the ramp and drop into the receiver where they are removed only with difliculty.

A still further expedient has been to provide a spring loaded retractable loading ramp which, when the bolt is retracted, rises to line up with the chamber and receive the cartridge and, when the bolt is pushed forward to closed position, the ramp will be retracted against the action of its spring. Such a design is also costly to make and sometimes uncertain in operation.

It is contemplated by the present invention to provide a conventional barrel and single-diameter receiver with a one-piece bolt having its front end reduced in diameter to substantially the diameter of the cartridge to be em- Patented Dec. 13, 1960 ployed. Mounted in the receiver in substantial contact with the butt end of the barrel but extending rearwardly for a distance greater than the loading aperture is a cylindrical feed throat piece splined or recessed axially and internally to accommodate an extractor and a firing pin ejector member, both of which do not need to lie within the small front bolt diameter, although carried by the bolt, as this throat piece does not rotate relatively to the bolt.

The bolt is provided with a reduced forward end or extension along which the extractor and firing pin extend, and these members projecting into the spline or axial internal recesses of the throat piece connect the latter and the bolt for rotation together. The rotation of the throat piece may be limited by a screw projecting into the receiver from the exterior thereof and extending into a recess or slot in the throat piece.

The loading aperture provided in the receiver need be no larger than the width and length of the cartridge employed which makes for a stronger receiver and neater appearance. Moreover, when the bolt is closed and locked, a solid portion of the throat piece closes the loading aperture in the receiver so that a smooth sealed receiver surface is presented to prevent dust or dirt getting into the gun.

One object of the present invention is to provide new and improved means for loading cartridges into a boltaction gun.

A further object of the invention is to provide loading mechanism for a bolt-action gun whereby the cartridge may merely be dropped through a loading opening in the receiver and will be held in a position aligned with the chamber to be rammed into the chamber by the forward movement of the bolt without additional guiding means.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a bolt-action rifle with a two-diameter bolt reciprocable to open and closed positions in a receiver having a singlediameter bore and to provide a throat piece surrounding the forward smaller portion of the bolt which throat piece is generally of sleevelike form to receive a cartridge in position to align it with the chamber and which will rotate with the bolt and which is permitted limited rotation within the receiver with the bolt but prevented from axial movement in the receiver.

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a bolt-action rifle embodying my improvements;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view thereof showing the bolt rotated to a point to be retracted to open position;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the receiver on. line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the receiver on line 4-4 of Fig. 1 showing the position of the parts when the bolt is in locked position and the loading opening closed;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the position of the parts when the bolt and loading throat have been rotated to loading position; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the loading throat piece.

To illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention I have illustrated a rifle comprising a barrel 10 provided with a bore 11, a chamber 12 and a receiver 13 secured to the rear end of the barrel. This receiver is of cylindrical shape and is provided with a through bore of constant diameter.

A bolt 14 is reciprocably mounted in the receiver, this bolt being provided with a reduced forward portion or extension 15. This extension is as shown of much smaller diameter than the internal diameter of the receiver but the body portion or rear portion of the bolt is of substantially the same diameter so as to fit slidably but snugly within the receiver.

Secured to the bolt is an operating handle 16 provided with a polygonal base 17 slidably mounted in a slot 18 opening through the rear end of the receiver, and this base, as shown in Fig. l, is adapted when the bolt is rotated to position shown in Fig. 1 to lie in a locking recess 19 formed in the receiver wall and extending in a direction transverse to that of the slot 18.

Slidably mounted in the bolt is a hammer 20 designed to be pulled rearwardly to cocked position by the finger piece 21, this hammer being provided adjacent its front end with a shoulder 22 adapted to be engaged (when the hammer is drawn rearwardly to cocked position) by the sear 23 of a trigger 24 pivoted to the receiver at 25.

Slidably mounted in an axial recess in the forward small-diameter portion 15 of the bolt is a firing pin 27, which pin extends rearwardly as shown at 28 to be engaged by the forward portion of the hammer or striker 20 to discharge the cartridge. An extractor 29 is secured at its rear end to the forward end of the large rear portion of the bolt and extends forwardly along the reduced end or extension 15 to a position adjacent the chamber when the bolt is closed in order to engage the cartridge rim and extract it from the chamber. It will be understood that the firing pin 27 also serves as an ejector for, when the bolt is retracted, the rear end 28 of the firing pin is engaged by the forward surface of the sear 23 to thrust the firing pin forwardly against the spent shell held by the extractor and eject it.

Rotatably mounted in the receiver in position to embrace the reduced forward end 15 of the bolt is a loading throat piece 30 shown more especially in Fig. 6. This throat piece is of hollow cylindrical shape, open at its front and rear ends and provided with a loading slot 31 in its side wall opening into the interior of the member so that, when the opening 31 is aligned with the loading opening 32 in the receiver 13 (Fig. 1), a cartridge may be dropped through the opening 32 into the interior of the throat piece. The parts are so dimensioned that the bore of the throat piece 30 will be substantially aligned with that of the chamber 12 and will also be aligned with that of the forward reduced portion 15 of the bolt so that the latter may reciprocate with the respect to the throat piece.

The rotation of the throat piece within the receiver is limited by the inner end of a screw 33 threaded into the receiver and extending into a recess or slot 34 of the throat piece. This recess is provided with shoulders 35 and 36 against which the screw may abut. This screw also holds the throat piece in a forward position with its forward end abutting the rear end of the barrel.

The throat piece is also provided with an internal spline 37 to slidably receive the firing pin 27 and a second internal spline 38 to slidably receive the extractor 29. As the firing pin and extractor project radially from the portion 15 of the bolt into the splines 37 and 38, the throat piece is connected to the bolt to rotate therewith while permitting relative longitudinal movement between the throat piece and the bolt to permit the latter to be moved to open and closed positions.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings the parts are shown in closed position with the bolt locked and the base 17 of the handle 16 engaged in the locking recess 19. In this position of the parts the throat piece 30 and reduced portion 15 of the bolt occupy the position shown in Fig. 4 where it will be noted that a solid portion of the throat piece 30 lies opposite the loading opening 32 in the receiver to effectively close the same against the entrance of dirt or dust.

To load the gun the handle is first moved from the position shown in full lines in Fig. l to that shown in dotted lines therein. The parts now occupy the position shown in Figs. 2, 3 and where it will be seen that the loading opening 32 in the receiver is aligned with the loading slot 31 in the throat piece 30.

The bolt may now be drawn rearwardly to open position, the polygonal base 17 sliding in the slot 18. This draws the forward reduced portion 15 of the bolt rearwardly relatively to the throat piece 30 so that a cartridge may be dropped through the opening 32 to lie within the bore of the member 30. In this position it is substantially aligned with the chamber 12 and, upon a forward movement of the bolt to closed position, the cartridge is rammed forwardly into the chamber. During the rearward movement of the bolt the throat piece is held against movement by the inner end of the retaining screw 33 and the firing pin 27 and extractor 29 move rearwardly in the grooves or splines 37 and 38. During this rearward movement the firing pin 27 strikes the forward end of the sear 23 and serves to eject the shell through the openings 31 and 32.

After the bolt has been returned to its forward position and the cartridge has been rammed into the chamber, the handle 16 is rotated from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 to that shown in full lines in Fig. 1 and the parts are restored to the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 4 where the loading slot 32 in the receiver is eifectively closed.

With the present construction the loading aperture need be no larger than the width and length of the cartridge, thus making for a stronger receiver and a neater appearance. Also as the bore of the throat piece 30 is substantially aligned with the chamber, the shell is reliably and easily guided into the chamber regardless of the attitude in which the gun is held during loading except, of course, the loading openings should not be pointed downward. The splined connection between the throat piece and the bolt provides for rotation of the throat piece to loading position when the bolt is unlocked and to closed position when the bolt is locked, while at the same time permitting longitudinal movement of the bolt relatively to the throat piece to open and closed positions. Thus I am enabled to make the bolt in one piece and to provide a receiver having a onediameter bore as the throat piece fits snugly within the receiver and embraces the forward reduced front portion of the bolt. This provides an inexpensive construction and at the same time one which will provide for efficient and certain loading of the cartridge in the chamber.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that it is not to be limited to all of the details shown, but is capable of modification and variation within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

l. A firearm comprising a barrel, a receiver attached thereto and a bolt reciprocably mounted within the receiver, the receiver having a bore of uniform diameter and the bolt having a forward portion of substantially the diameter of the cartridge, a hollow generally cylindrical throat piece mounted in the receiver to rotate about an axis substantially coincident with that of the barrel in a position embracing the forward end of the bolt, said receiver and throat piece being provided with loading openings adapted to register in one angular position of the throat piece and means connecting the throat piece to the bolt for rotation therewith.

2. A firearm comprising a barrel, a receiver attached thereto and a bolt reciprocably mounted within the receiver, the receiver having a bore of uniform diameter and the bolt having a forward portion of substantially the diameter of the cartridge, a hollow generally cylindrical throat piece mounted in the receiver to rotate about an axis substantially coincident with that of the barrel in a position embracing the forward end of the bolt, said receiver and throat piece being provided with loading openings adapted to register in one angular position of the throat piece, and means connecting said throat piece to the forward portion of the bolt for rotation therewith while permitting relative longitudinal movement between the bolt and throat piece.

3. A firearm comprising a barrel, a receiver attached thereto and a bolt reciprocably mounted within the receiver, the receiver having a bore of uniform diameter and the bolt having a forward portion of substantially the diameter of the cartridge, a hollow generally cylindrical throat piece mounted in the receiver to rotate about an axis substantially coincident with that of the barrel in a position embracing the forward end of the bolt, said receiver and throat piece being provided with loading openings adapted to register in one angular position of the throat piece, means connecting the throat piece to the bolt to rotate therewith, and means preventing longitudinal movement of the throat piece in the receiver.

4. A firearm comprising a barrel, a receiver attached thereto and a bolt reciprocably mounted within the receiver, the receiver having a bore of uniform diameter and the bolt having a forward portion of substantially the diameter of the cartridge, a hollow generally cylindrical throat piece rotatably mounted in the receiver in a position slidably embracing the forward end of the bolt with its axis substantially coincident with that of the bolt, said receiver and throat piece being provided with loading openings adapted to register in one angular position of the throat piece, a striker member slidably carried by the bolt and extending through the throat piece, and said throat piece having an internal longitudinal recess in which said striker member is received.

5. A firearm comprising a barrel, a receiver attached thereto and a bolt reciprocably and rotatably mounted within the receiver, the receiver having a bore of uniform diameter and the bolt having a forward portion of substantially the diameter of the cartridge, a hollow generally cylindrical throat piece rotatably mounted in the receiver in a position slidably embracing the forward end of the bolt, said receiver and throat piece being provided with loading openings adapted to register in one angular position of the throat piece, an extractor secured to the bolt and extending forwardly into the throat piece, and the latter having an internal longitudinal recess in which said extractor is received and being connected to the bolt to rotate therewith.

6. A firearm having a barrel, a receiver mounted at the rear end of the barrel and having a bore of substantially constant diameter opening through the rear end thereof, a bolt mounted for sliding and limited rotative movement within the receiver, said bolt having a rear body portion and a portion of reduced size projecting forwardly from the body portion, a throat piece rotatably mounted in the receiver and slidably embracing the forward reduced portion of the bolt to rotate about the axis of the latter, means restraining said throat piece against longitudinal movement, and means connecting said throat piece to the bolt for rotation therewith, said throat piece being hollow and having a loading opening through its side wall, and said receiver having a loading opening adapted to register with the loading opening in the throat piece in one position of the latter.

7. A firearm having a barrel, a receiver mounted at the rear end of the barrel and having a bore of substantially constant diameter opening through the rear end thereof, a bolt mounted for sliding and limited rotative movement within the receiver, said bolt having a rear body portion and a portion of reduced size projecting forwardly from the body portion, a throat piece rotatably mounted in the receiver and slidably embracing the forward reduced portion of the bolt, means restraining said throat piece against longitudinal movement, and means connecting said throat piece to the bolt for rotation therewith and about substantially the same axis, said throat piece being hollow and having a loading opening through its side wall,

and said receiver having a loading opening adapted to register with the loading opening in the throat piece in one position of the latter, said throat piece closing the loading opening in the receiver in another position thereof.

8. A firearm having a barrel, a receiver mounted at the rear end of the barrel and having a bore of substantially constant diameter opening through the rear end thereof, a bolt mounted for sliding and limited rotative movement within the receiver, said bolt having a rear body portion and a portion of reduced size projecting forwardly from the body portion, a throat piece rotatably mounted in the receiver and embracing the forward reduced portion of the bolt, means restraining said throat piece against longitudinal movement, means connecting said throat piece to the bolt for rotation therewith about an axis substantially coincident with that of the barrel bore, said throat piece being of cylindrical form and having an axial opening therethrough in which the bolt is slidably received, and a lateral opening communicating with said through opening, and said receiver having a loading opening adapted to register with said lateral opening in one rotative position ,of the throat piece and to be closed by a wall of the latter in another rotative position thereof.

9. A firearm comprising a barrel, a receiver attached thereto and a bolt reciprocably and rotatably mounted within the receiver, the receiver having a bore of uniform diameter and the bolt being provided with a portion of reduced diameter extending forwardly from the body thereof, a hollow generally cylindrical throat piece rotatably mounted in the receiver and slidably embracing the forward reduced end of the bolt to rotate about an axis substantially coincident with that of the bolt, said receiver and the wall of the throat piece being provided with loading openings adapted to register in one angular position of the throat piece, and said loading opening in the receiver being closed by a wall of the throat piece in another angular position thereof.

10. A firearm comprising a barrel, a receiver attached thereto and a bolt reciprocably and rotatably mounted within the receiver, the forward end portion of the bolt being of a diameter substantially equal to that of the cartridge to be employed, and a hollow generally cylindrical throat piece rotatably mounted in the receiver in a position embracing the forward end of the bolt and to rotate about an axis substantially coincident with that of the bolt, said receiver and throat piece being provided with loading openings adapted to register in one angular position of the throat piece, and the latter slidably receiving the bolt and retained against longitudinal movement in the receiver.

11 A firearm comprising a barrel, a receiver attached thereto and a bolt reciprocably mounted within the receiver, the receiver having a bore of uniform diameter and the bolt having a forward portion of substantially the diameter of the cartridge, a hollow generally cylindrical throat piece mounted in the receiver to rotate about an axis substantially coincident with that of the barrel in a position embracing the forward end of the bolt, said receiver and throat piece being provided with loading openings adapted to register in one angular position of the throat piece, means connecting the throat piece to the bolt for rotation therewith, said bolt being mounted in the receiver for limited rotation, and said throat piece being connected to the bolt for rotation thereby to the registering position of said openings when the bolt is at one limit of its permitted rotation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

